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Kiplagat finally wins in Prague - REPORT

Following three second place finishes in this year’s RunCzech.com running circuit, the young Kenyan runner Henry Kiplagat finally won in Prague.

During the Mattoni Prague Grand Prix - IAAF Silver Label Road Race - on Saturday night (8), he got away from all pursuers in the Metro 10km Race, who included the World record holder for the Marathon, Patrick Makau, and crossed the finish line with a very good time of 27:51. Tadelech Bekele from Ethiopia won the adidas Women’s Race 5km with a time of 15:48.

Although no records were broken in the race, tens of thousands of spectators created a thrilling atmosphere along the track leading up to the lit up night Prague centre. "A great race, I enjoyed it", said Kiplagat. "I had no strategy, I just ran, ran fast and this is how it turned out. Finally I was alone in the front".

At about the half way mark of the race, he shook off the second runner, Adugnu Tekele, from Ethiopia. In the end, Kiprop Limo, the younger brother of the winner and record holder from last year, also passed Tekele. Philemon Limo, the defending champion could not attend this year because he has been selected for the Kenyan team for the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Kavarna, Bulgaria, 6 October.

Yet, Patrick Makau was not smiling, he finished tenth. From the beginning you could see that the pace was too fast for him. "I felt tired and also the cobblestones were not good for me. I was careful at every step, I didn’t want to get injured," he admitted. "However, it was very good speed training for the Frankfurt Marathon in October. And the atmosphere? Was unique," he thanked the organisers.

Tadelech Bekele from Ethiopia, a regular participant in the RunCzech.com running circuit won the women’s race. "Although I usually run longer races, I am happy that I was able to do it, even though I wasn’t the favourite to win." The fourth place finisher Polish Olympian, Karolina Jarzynská, was the best European.